So during my trip to London this past week, we visited Pinewood Studios. I'll tell you all about that amazing adventure through movie history at a later date, but while walking through "The Mansion" to have lunch, I spotted several framed photos featuring images from films that have shot at Pinewood with little fun facts about each. Of course there were Bond films and Aliens and Eyes Wide Shut ... and Superman (1978). Regarding the latter, the fun fact talked about how Steven Spielberg was originally up for the director's chair on Superman. The producer's fought over Spielberg, because one wanted him to direct Supes and the other wanted to wait to see how "his fish movie" turned out. Of course, Jaws would go on to become one of the great films of our time, and when the producers finally came to their senses and offered Spielberg Superman, he was already attached to Close Encounters of the Third Kind and couldn't do it. Enter: Richard Donner.

But what would a Superman film directed by Steven Spielberg have looked like? Could you imagine? Word is Tintin is now in trouble, with the possibility that Spielberg could be left without a new project to direct (save for Lincoln, if he should decide to finally delve into that one). In my opinion, Spielberg -- with his wholesome, Americana persona and expert eye for mass appeal action/adventure -- would be the perfect person to step in and helm a new, updated Superman. And while all these other franchises go dark, Spielberg could bring some much-needed light to the Man of Steel. (Plus I wouldn't mind seeing what a Spielberg-directed superhero flick would look like.)

What do you think? Could Steven Spielberg save Superman? And would you want him to?

It looks like another quiet week in the land of the geek -- particularly since all my friends are off at Fantastic Fest. If you're one of the lucky people attending, eat a Wild at Artichoke Hearts pizza for me at the Alamo Drafthouse. I lie awake at night thinking about it, and wishing for the skill to replicate it.

• The biggest news of the weekend was a story that hit Variety late Friday night: Stephen Chow has landed the role of Kato in The Green Hornet and the director's chair. Rumors and Seth Rogen's wishes have attached him for some time, but now it's official, and definitely shows that the project is going to be heavy on the comedy. (Incidentally, I never realized before now what huge Green Hornet fans my geek parents were -- let's just say Rogen's ears must be burning.) The movie is scheduled to be released June 25th, 2010.
  

• Tintin has run into some major financial problems. According to the LA Times, Universal has passed on the film, leaving Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson to scramble for a new studio to financially back them. It's as embarrassing as you can imagine -- not only because its two of the biggest names in the business, but because Spielberg may have to make nice with Paramount (who's financing half the film) just as he and David Geffen are trying to extricate themselves from it. It also leaves Spielberg without a project to direct, as Tintin was supposed to be next in line, and it delays the whole thing even longer. But hey, at least struggling directors the world over can now do something they never thought possible -- feel just like Spielberg!
  

A few days ago it was confirmed that Steven Spielberg was putting The Trial of The Chicago 7 on the back burner to work on Tintin full-time. But despite earlier reports that Paul Greengrass had been chosen to take over, it looks like Chicago 7 is still without a director. According to CHUD, they contacted Greengrass and he confirmed that while he thinks it's a 'wonderful project,' and he had considered it; the timing just wasn't right -- and something tells me that a certain spy flick might have taken priority.

The trial of the so-called 'Chicago 7' (eight, if you want to be a stickler for details) was one of the defining moments of the 60's counterculture movement. During the '68 Democratic convention eight people (including the infamous Abbie Hoffman and Black Panther, Bobby Seale) were arrested for inciting a riot and conspiracy. The trial was recently made famous in the documentary, Chicago 10, and according to earlier reports, Sorkin's script is loosely based on Brett Morgen's animated doc.

Erik brought us some casting news earlier in the year, but it seems like nothing is written in stone when it comes to this movie. Spielberg has packed his slate for the coming year, but if I had to choose from his upcoming projects, I would have loved to see him tackle this story (not to mention getting his hands on an Aaron Sorkin script).

Sound off below on who you would like to see take the reigns for The Chicago 7, that is if it ever gets made...

We've known for a while that Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg were collaborating on the forthcoming Tintin trilogy, with Spielberg to direct the first film (which is in preproduction and starts shooting in September) and Jackson the second. There had previously been no word on who would helm the third film, and there's still no official word, but Spielberg recently suggested that he and Jackson might co-direct it.

"We are going to make three Tintin movies back-to-back," Spielberg said "I'll direct the first one, Peter will direct the second one. We'll probably co-direct the third one."

It's hard to come up with something to say about this kind of news, other than "that's awesome." Obviously this would be a monumental collaboration, teaming together two of the most prodigiously skilled filmmakers working in the mainstream. The Tintin franchise is Spielberg's first foray into large-scale motion capture (I think he made some use of the technique in A.I. Artificial Intelligence) and Jackson, of course, is an expert after Lord of the Rings and King Kong. And if there's one thing Spielberg knows it's how to finesse a successful family film. The whole thing is perfect, I tell you.

What this news does to the long-awaited Lincoln biopic (see here for a recent update) is anybody's guess. If the thing can get off the ground, I guess Spielberg might have some time between the Tintins.

[hat tip: SlashFilm]

There's currently a crisis in the theater industry and apparently it's all Steven Spielberg's fault. According to Variety coverage of Sunday's National Association of Broadcasters Show's Digitial Cinema Summit, the filmmaker was named as a constant obstacle in the transition to digital cinema.

Spielberg's insistence against releasing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull digitally was overruled last month when Paramount announced that it would indeed open the summer blockbuster on some digital screens, but the fact that it won't be a full digital release, coupled with the fact that Spielberg still doesn't "get" the fact that digital is superior to film, is a problematic issue for an industry having difficulties installing a necessary amount of digital projectors by 2009.

• Paul Scofield (1922-2008) - British actor (pictured) who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons and who was nominated again almost thirty years later for his supporting role in Quiz Show. He also co-stars in Frankenheimer's The Train, Branagh's Henry V, Zeffirelli's Hamlet, Hytner's The Crucible and Michael Winner's Scorpio, and he played the title role in Peter Brook's King Lear. He narrated the documentaries London and Robinson in Space and voiced the part of Akira Kurosawa in the documentary Kurosawa. He died of leukemia March 19, in West Sussex, England. (NY Times)
• Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) - Oscar-nominated screenwriter of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Best known as a science fiction author, he wrote the novel-turned-film 2010, and his novels Rendezvous with Rama and Childhood's End are also currently being adapted. See Richard's full post for details of his death.
• Hugo Claus (1929-2008) - Belgian filmmaker, novelist and playwright. He wrote the screenplay for the 1958 Oscar nominee Dorp Aaan De Rivier and his directorial work includes the Berlin Film Festival nominee Vrijdag and an adaptation of his play De Verlossing. He died March 19 in Antwerp, Belgium. (BBC)

If the Daily Mail is to be believed, Steven Spielberg has found his Tintin. It's been reported that Thomas Sangster has been cast to play the titular hero.

Sangster is 17 years old, and you've seen him in Love, Actually, Tristan and Isolde, Nanny McPhee and The Last Legion. He's a fine young actor, and like Freddie Highmore, possesses the ability to totally break your heart. Not that Tintin would require him to do that -- are there any tragic deaths in any of the books? I think he's got the right look -- and the three movies will be done as performance capture, so it doesn't matter in the end.

I really hope this is true casting, and not just a rumor born out of an interview where he said "I like Tintin." Filming is supposed to begin this September, so the timing is certainly right for an announcement. Spielberg will quash it soon enough if it isn't -- although how long did we hear denials that Shia LeBeouf wasn't in Indiana Jones 4? He's already been down to L.A. to do some pre-production test sequences, though that could be merely a try out.

I'd love to know your thoughts, Tintin fans. I'm not as familiar with the comic as I should be, so this might be horrible news to you all.

[via SuperheroHype.com]

It's those little stories that speak volumes.

As you may remember, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are collaborating to bring the popular Tintin series to life. Now comes the news, from a recent Andy Serkis interview, that Spielberg intends to tackle the first film and Jackson the second. No one yet knows who might be directing the third film.

The bulk of shooting starts in September, but Serkis was flying out immediately to start work. While that conjures images that he'll be donning a leotard and bouncing around for the computers, he's playing a human (Captain Haddock) this time. When asked if he was afraid that Jackson would have him playing Snowy the Dog, Serkis had a good laugh: "Absolutely, in fact people assume that I am, which is even more disturbing."

If Serkis is reporting for duty, hopefully Tintin will start kicking into high gear, and fans can expecting some really exciting news very soon -- maybe there will be some announcements buried in all those upcoming Indiana Jones 4 press conferences.

[via CHUD]

And the Internet sat up and went, "Seriously?"

CHUD's Devin Faraci is one dedicated researcher. Like a man possessed, he's been determined to unearth Djimon Hounsou's comic book project. (We reported on what it could be earlier this week as well.) It would now seem that he has, and the news is a bit disappointing. One of CHUD's reporters was at the Never Back Down junket and pressed Hounsou further. The actor reluctantly revealed that it was a comic "that used to be part of the Conan comic book."

Faraci spoke to NuImage, the people behind the new Conan movie, and they are only in talks with Hounsou -- and do not even have a director, so the project is far from definite. There are some other Robert E. Howard projects in development, notably Solomon Kane, but it is already filming, and Bran Mak Morn.

It is all a long way from Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg's Tintin or the Black Panther. Faraci is still consumed with the story and trying to get a definite answer. Pop on over and read his article, which includes audio of Hounsou's Conan quote.